James Molony is first seen in the Philadelphia City Directory of 1795 as a currier. He starts buying land in 1803 and somehow becomes exceedingly successful - I counted more than 100 land purchases in Philadelphia (random sampling included lots as little as $300 and as much as several thousand dollars) alone. He started buying land in Montgomery County in the 1830s. There was a big family fight over his Montgomery properties following his death (he left no will). Charles J. Thomas, his son-in-law, and Joshua Molony, his son, were co-administrators and other family members felt Joshua "knocked off" the land and estate at a low price, to a man who never moved onto the property (Joshua continued to live there). In his later years he was referred to as James Molony of Kingsessing.Where did James come from? A late (1880) census of his daughter gives conflicting information but says he was English - ie an immigrant. He may, however, have been the son of John Molony as seen in several records in the Pennsylvania Archives including, for instance:
STATE REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.
(a.) General return of the Pennsylvania State Regiments of Artillery, Commanded by Colonel Thomas Proctor, Esq. Taken April 3d, 1779.
Non-Commissioned Staff and Musicians. John Molony, Clerk, County W. Meath, Ireland
April 23, 1777This family name is spelled Moloney, Maloney, or Malony. James may also be related to (perhaps was the brother of) John Mullowny.
(Indenture made Feb 8 1810 between James Molony of Philadelphia Currier and Ann his wife and John Mullowny of Philadelphia, Gentleman. $3,300 for land on south side of Market or High St. "which described lots James Stokes of the City of Philadelphia, Merchant, and Sarah his wife, by indenture of 1/13/1810 granted to James Molony & John Mullowny in fee.") Email jane@mappamundi.com or call (919-383-8952) if you have questions, corrections, additions, or just to say hi! Mailing address at bottom of this page.
First Generation
1. James Molony was born on 3 Feb 1770 in Limerick, Ireland and died before 18 Aug 1851 in Philadelphia, PA.
James married Anne Moore on 23 Oct 1794 in First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.
2 M i. John Drury Molony was born on 5 Aug 1795 and died on 1 Feb 1840.
3 F ii. Sarah Molony was born on 6 Nov 1796 and died on 22 May 1842.
4 M iii. Daniel Molony was born on 30 Oct 1798 and died on 18 Aug 1832 in Philadelphia PA.
5 M iv. Joshua Molony was born on 28 Jan 1803 in Pennsylvania and died after 1851.
6 M v. Thomas Joseph Molony was born on 30 Oct 1804 in Pennsylvania and died on 30 Dec 1876.
7 F vi. Ann Molony was born in 1810 of Kingsessing, Philadelphia and died on 2 Jan 1879 in Philadelphia PA.
8 F vii. Mary Molony was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania and died after 1850.
M viii. Martin Molony was born on 28 Jul 1800 and died in 1820 in St. Jegs-DE-Cyley.
Second Generation (Children)
2. John Drury Molony was born on 5 Aug 1795 and died on 1 Feb 1840.
John married (name unknown).
9 F i. Elizabeth I. Molony was born about 1820 and died in 1844-1850 in Philadelphia, PA.
M ii. John Molony was born in 1823 in Pennsylvania and died after 1851.
10 F iii. Ann Molony was born about 1825 and died after 1851.
M iv. Stewart Molony was born in 1828 in Pennsylvania and died after 1851.
3. Sarah Molony was born on 6 Nov 1796 and died on 22 May 1842.
Sarah married John I. Breban about 1822.
F i. Cornelia Breban was born before 1826 and died after 1853.
M ii. James M. Breban was born in Oct 1831 and died after 1853.
4. Daniel Molony was born on 30 Oct 1798 and died on 18 Aug 1832 in Philadelphia PA.
Daniel married Mary [Molony].
11 F i. Mary Molony was born in 1827 in Pennsylvania and died after 1880.
M ii. Daniel Molony was born about 1829.
12 F iii. Ann Isabella Molony was born about 1826 and died in Oct 1850 in Hamilton County, Ohio.
M iv. Thomas Molony was born about 1835.
M v. James Molony was born about 1837.
M vi. Samuel Molony was born about 1839.
M vii. Edward Molony was born about 1841.
5. Joshua Molony was born on 28 Jan 1803 in Pennsylvania and died after 1851.
Joshua married Adeline Magneau about 1824.
13 M i. Martin Molony was born in 1826 in Pennsylvania and died on 1 Dec 1878 in Norristown, Montgomery, PA.
14 M ii. Alvah J. Dr. Molony was born in 1829 in Pennsylvania and died on 25 Sep 1867 in Norristown, Montgomery, PA.
F iii. Ellen Molony was born in 1832.
F iv. Frances Molony was born in 1836.
15 M v. Benton Molony was born in 1840 in Pennsylvania and died after 1880.
M vi. Franklin Molony was born in 1843.
6. Thomas Joseph Molony was born on 30 Oct 1804 in Pennsylvania and died on 30 Dec 1876.
Thomas married Rachel M. Holstein on 27 May 1830 in Philadelphia, PA.
M i. George Holstein Molony was born on 26 Feb 1831 and died on 10 Dec 1855 in Forest City, California.
7. Ann Molony was born in 1810 of Kingsessing, Philadelphia and died on 2 Jan 1879 in Philadelphia PA.
Ann married Charles Johnson Thomas on 18 Nov 1829 in Philadelphia PA.
M i. James M. Thomas was born in 1830 and died in 1871-1879.
16 M ii. Joseph Mather Thomas was born in 1831 and died before Oct 1871.
M iii. Charles J. Jr. Thomas was born in 1833 and died after 1879.
17 F iv. Ann J. Thomas was born in 1835 and died after 1879.
M v. William H. Thomas was born in 1837 and died after 1879.
18 F vi. Mary T. Thomas was born on 11 Feb 1840 in Philadelphia PA and died on 3 Aug 1905 in Marblehead, MA.
M vii. Elliott Thomas was born in 1842 and died after 1879.
19 F viii. Sallie Sarah Thomas was born in 1843 and died after 1879.
8. Mary Molony was born in 1814 in Pennsylvania and died after 1850.
Mary married Mr Johnson.
Third Generation (Grandchildren)
9. Elizabeth I. Molony was born about 1820 and died in 1844-1850 in Philadelphia, PA.
Elizabeth married John J. Cafferty about 1842.
M i. Julian Julia B. Cafferty was born in 1844.
10. Ann Molony was born about 1825 and died after 1851.
Ann married John J. Cafferty after 1844.
11. Mary Molony was born in 1827 in Pennsylvania and died after 1880.
Mary married Anthony M. Trimmer about 1850.
M i. James M. Trimmer was born in 1852 in New Jersey and died after 1880.
F ii. Mary A. Trimmer was born in 1860 in New Jersey and died after 1880.
12. Ann Isabella Molony was born about 1826 and died in Oct 1850 in Hamilton County, Ohio.
13. Martin Molony was born in 1826 in Pennsylvania and died on 1 Dec 1878 in Norristown, Montgomery, PA.
Martin married Sarah Ann Sallie Gartley on 23 Oct 1861 in St John's, Norristown, Montgomery PA.
14. Alvah J. Dr. Molony was born in 1829 in Pennsylvania and died on 25 Sep 1867 in Norristown, Montgomery, PA.
Alvah married Elizabeth M. Stephens on 20 Apr 1854 in Upper Merion, Montgomery, PA.
M i. William S. Molony was born on 27 Nov 1855.
M ii. Alvah J. Jr. Molony was born on 25 Mar 1862.
15. Benton Molony was born in 1840 in Pennsylvania and died after 1880.
Benton married Ellen [Molony] WFT Est 1845-1890.
20 M i. Stuart B. Molony was born in 1876 and died after 1880.
M ii. Franklin M. Molony was born in 1869.
16. Joseph Mather Thomas was born in 1831 and died before Oct 1871.
Joseph married (name unknown).
F i. Mary Thomas was born about 1853 and died after 1879.
F ii. Josephine Thomas was born about 1855 and died after 1879.
F iii. Ann M. Thomas was born about 1857 and died after 1879.
17. Ann J. Thomas was born in 1835 and died after 1879.
18. Mary T. Thomas was born on 11 Feb 1840 in Philadelphia PA and died on 3 Aug 1905 in Marblehead, MA.
Mary married Richard Servetus Mason on 11 Mar 1862 in Philadelphia PA.
F i. Annie T. Mason was born on 15 May 1863 in Philadelphia PA and died on 6 Sep 1863 in Philadelphia PA.
F ii. Laura Mason was born on 4 Jun 1864 in Philadelphia PA and died on 28 Dec 1864 in Philadelphia PA.
M iii. James Servetus Mason was born on 6 Jul 1865 in Philadelphia PA and died on 11 May 1866 in Philadelphia PA.
F iv. Jane Graham Mason was born on 11 Dec 1868 in Philadelphia PA and died on 24 May 1954 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA.
F v. Mary Taylor Mason was born on 15 Jan 1871 in Philadelphia PA and died on 13 Aug 1957 in Cerne, School House Lane, Germantown PA.
21 M vi. Charles Thomas Mason was born on 23 Jul 1874 in Philadelphia PA and died on 1 May 1951 in La Jolla, San Diego Cty, CA.
19. Sallie Sarah Thomas was born in 1843 and died after 1879.
Sallie married Albert J. Yerkes.
Fourth Generation (Great Grandchildren)
20. Stuart B. Molony was born in 1876 and died after 1880.
Stuart married Margaret Shippen Beaver.
21. Charles Thomas Mason was born on 23 Jul 1874 in Philadelphia PA and died on 1 May 1951 in La Jolla, San Diego Cty, CA.
Charles married Helen Mary Watson on 26 Jan 1897 in Philadelphia PA.
22 M i. Charles Thomas Mason Jr. was born on 23 Apr 1897 and died in 1954.
23 M ii. Graham Servetus Mason was born in 1898.
24 F iii. Marjorie Atlee Mason was born on 1 Sep 1900 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA and died on 5 Jan 1991 in Hampton, Connecticut.
25 M iv. Geoffrey Travers Mason was born on 13 May 1902 and died in Jan 1987 in Rumford Rhode Island.
26 M v. Cuthbert Rex Mason was born in 1905 and died in 1983.
27 M vi. Verree Atlee Mason was born on 30 Jan 1913 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA and died on 4 Nov 1993 in Orange, Orange Cty, CA.
Fifth Generation (Great Great Grandchildren)
22. Charles Thomas Mason Jr. was born on 23 Apr 1897 and died in 1954.
Charles married Myrtle Margaret Maxwell in 1909.
23. Graham Servetus Mason was born in 1898.
Graham married Valerie [Mason].
24. Marjorie Atlee Mason was born on 1 Sep 1900 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA and died on 5 Jan 1991 in Hampton, Connecticut.
Marjorie married Charles Bowen Hodges Jr. on 17 Mar 1924 in Germantown, PA.
25. Geoffrey Travers Mason was born on 13 May 1902 and died in Jan 1987 in Rumford Rhode Island.
Geoffrey married Sally Sarah E. Chew.
26. Cuthbert Rex Mason was born in 1905 and died in 1983.
Cuthbert married Mary O'connor.
27. Verree Atlee Mason was born on 30 Jan 1913 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA and died on 4 Nov 1993 in Orange, Orange Cty, CA.
Verree married Avis Elizabeth Chessman.
Contact: jane@mappamundi.com
Sources
1. Colonial Families of Philadelphia. Surety: 3
2. 1880 Census. Surety: 3
3. Estate papers of James Molony. Surety: 3
4. IGI. Surety: 3
5. 1830 Census. Surety: 3
6. Philadelphia Album & Ladies LIterary Portfolio (newspaper). Surety: 3
7. 1850 census. Surety: 3
8. ericandleigh@afnet.net. Surety: 3
9. Poulson's American Daily Advertiser, Date of Nov 16 1829. Surety: 3
10. Newspaper notice of death. Surety: 3
11. Civil War records of Martin Molony. Surety: 3
12. Civil War records of Alvah J. Molony. Surety: 3
13. Civil War records of Thomas J. Molony. Surety: 3
14. Will of Charles Johnson Thomas 1871. Surety: 3
15. Will of Ann Thomas 1879. Surety: 3
16. Marriage license. Surety: 3
17. Philadelphia Public Ledger, Pa. 2 3/14/1862. Surety: 3
18. Death certificate. Surety: 3
19. Steltz Church record book. Surety: 3